Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-04

The mental and spiritual welfare OF tho set
| tiers was sure to be cared for when such men as
| Manassch Cutler were leading spirits in tho
Ohio Company. To plant colony without SOW
ing in IL the desire for learning and the fear OF
God would have been 10 Cutler and his friends
an Impossible omission.
1t was Cutler who did the careful work before
the Congressional Committees that secured the
purchase of the Ohio Company for the Directors,
and 1t was Cutler who inspired the immortal
clause in the ordinance of i1s7 prohibiting
slavery in the Northwestern Territory.
Rev. Mannsseh Cutler was born In Conncctl.
cut, May ~ llis. He studious boy, and
was graduated from Yale College with high
honor in 1865. He studied law and practiccd 1t
for short time, but in 1863 began to prepare
for the ministry, which he entered in III. He
was the pastor OF one church in Hamilton,
Mass, for ilfty.two years. He was a preacher
OF uncommon ability and force. / find writ
ten OF him by contemporary clergyman:
His public discourscs were prepared In Gospel
style, but with studied accuracy, argumenta-
tive energy and persuasive pathos. He could
be son OF thunder and son OF consolation"
While very Young man, DIR. Cutler became Il
devoted student Of science, and his reputation
was only second to that OF Benjamin Franklin's.
He prepared paper on botany which the Amer
lean Society OF Arts and Sciences published in
their memoirs, and which DIR. Franklin himself
had republishcd in the Columbian Magazine of
Philadelphia. Soon after the beginning of the
revolutionary war DIR. Cutler became also u
practicing physician. The regular physician OF
the town had gone with the armies and Dr.
Cutler filled his place, and won distinction as
a doctor of medicine.
A great many degrees and honors were con-
ferred upon DIR. Cutler OF civic and literary
nature. His acquaintance was vast and vaun-
BILE, for he served two years as a chaplain in the
Continental armies, and became personally
known TO most OF the distinguished officers, and
was on the best of terms with the foremost men
of his day.
lied the Ohio Company for the purpose of plant
ing a colony in the West, he was heartily in sym
pathy with their aims and efforts. Elected n
director of the company, he was soon appointed
its agent to negotiate for the purchase OF lands
from Congress. In June, iIs7, he went TO New
York upon his mission, where he not only made
the purchase. rs we know, on the best of terns,
but he succeeded by the exercise of his mug
niicent talents, In Incorporating into the or
ganic law of the whole Northwest Territory the
law of his own State He prevented the cxten-
sion of slavery and provided for the free school
system that has been the blessing and safeguard
OF the West and of the Nation
DIR. Cutler left Il valuable journal, which IL is
hoped may some day be given TO the public.
While his negotiations were pending with Con-
gress, he visited benjamin Franklin, and his
description of the old philosopher, Parton says
IL lllt UtSt account ol tnt sort Written NJ Int
time. In the summer of lISS DR.. Cutler visited
Marietta to attend u meeting OF the Directors
OF the Ohio Company. He left Hamilton in a
sulky July 81, and reached the mouth of the
Muskingum August 10. He was present at the
opening of the first court held in the Terri
tory and preached several times. He thought
ut one time OF moving his family TO Marietta,
but afterward found that he could not do so.
Shortly after the defeat OF the Indians by
Wayne, President Washington offered to ap-
point Dr. Cutler u Judge Of the Supreme Court
in the Territory, but he declined the commits
sion. In 1870 DR.. Cutler was elected to Con-
grcss, and was reelected In 1902. His own peo-
Pile held him in high esteem, and regarded him
US man of uncommon ability. He was Il Fed
eralist in politics. DR.. Cutler was not one Of
the pioneers himself but two OF his sons were
among the early settlers. DIR. Cutler was man
of fine personal appearance. He was above the
common stature and had an erect, dignifed
carriage His complexion was light, and he had
eyes of eDgn"ing clearness and brightness. His
manners we've gentlemanly, his conversation
easy and intelligent, his mental endowments
high" He died July 2s- 1873, aged eighty.onc
years.
In discourse after -s!l by Benjamin
Wadsworth, ID. D., II aiG: "All who en-
ioyed the privilege of an acc raintance with Rev.
Dr. Cutler knew that nature had been liberal OF
her gifts, enriching an elegant form with pen
etrating and enterprising mind, capacitated for
literary and scientific attainments, and with tai
ents formed tn shine on the public stage of life.
His name will stand enrolled on the list of the
early literat"
The first person who was regularly engaged In
the mercantile business in the Northwest Terri
tory was Dudley Woodbridge, Esq, the grand
father of Hon. Geo. NJ. Woodbridge, OF Marietta
David Woodbridge was from Connecticut and
was descended from the first graduate OF Har-
ward College. His grandson devoted much time
TO the study OF early history and has al OF the
books and papers of Dudley Woodbridge. He
is also the possessor OF more fresh and accurate
concerning the Blennerhassetts than
any one now living, and probably has the only
likeness OF Mrs. Blenncrhassett In ex-
istence.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Woodbridge discovered
the old well that was within old Fort Harmar.
An old bucket, pewter plate and two scalping
knives were found at the bottom OF the well.
In talking OF the early merchants, Mr., Wood
b. idge said: ~ find that the earliest merchants
were Dudley Woodbridge, Sr., Charles Green, II.
]. Meigs, Joseph Lincoln, Abner Lord Benz. l. |
Dudley Woodbridge, Jr., Wm. Skinner,
Herman Blennerhassett
Where did the merchants buy their goodsi"
"Chiefy east OF the mountains. / have in my
the original invoices OF the first store
goods ever brought to Ohio. The accounts were
expressed in pounds, shilings and pence; the
articles most in demand were powder, shot,
lead, fnts, tobacco, rum, whisky, fish-hooks,
shoes, wool hats, spinning Wheels irons, crock
cry, nails, glass, tea, snuff. Goods were cartcd
and conveyed by post horses TO the Upper Ohio
river, thence by boat TO the mouth OF the Mu'r
sngum The trips often took months